USA > New Jersey > New Jersey and the rebellion : a history of the service of the troops and people of New Jersey in aid of the Union cause, Pt. 1 > Part 44
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The order to march, when (on the 31st of October,) the army broke camp, was obeyed by the Fifteenth with true soldierly alacrity. But one thing was universally regretted, and that was the inability of Colonel Fowler, the chivalrous commander, who was dangerously ill with typhoid fever, to accompany the regiment. His ability and energy had been manifested in recruiting and rapidly preparing for the field an unusually fine body of men ; but his high ambition to lead them into actual combat was never gratified, and he never after assumed command. When he rejoined
especially among the young men of Sussex being great, his services were from the outset of the utmost value, whole companies being recruited by his efforts alone. In all the war meetings of the county, his voice pleaded forcibly for unauimity and energy in the work of the public defense ; and to him, more than to any other man, it is due that Sussex during the whole period of the war was represented in the field by some of the best and bravest troops connected with the service. In the organization of the Fifteenth Regiment, his infinenee was particularly manifest, scores of young meu flocking to its standards who, but for his connection with it, would never have gone a-field. That Colonel Fowler did not always approve all the military acts of the Gov- ernment is undoubtedly truc, but he kept his faith in the Cause all the same, per- titting no opposition or reproaches to sweep him from his anchorage. He did not survive to see the happy termination of the war, but had he done so, no man in all the land would have hailed with keener rejoicing than he the overthrow of the rebellion, which he abhorred as at once a blunder and a crime.
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the regiment after the first battle of Fredericksburg, it was with a shattered constitution, and though he followed the army for a few weeks, the surgeons pronounced him unfit for duty, and he was mustered out of service. He was ever held in affectionate remem- brance by officers and men, and when intelligence of his death afterwards reached the command, not a few stout hearts were wrung by grief that so promising a career had so soon and unex- pectedly been closed.ยช
At New Baltimore, General Mcclellan took his farewell of the army, and attended by General Burnside, his successor, did the New Jersey Brigade the honor of riding entirely around their camp, receiving a cordial welcome. After a week's delay at Warrenton, the army moved to Stafford Court House, with Fredericksburg as its objective. Another delay, however, gave the enemy an oppor- tunity to concentrate his forces, and when, on the night of the 10th of December, the advance was resumed, Fredericksburg was in a state of perfect defense. The Fifteenth reached Stafford Heights on the morning of the 11th, but did not become engaged, though witnesses of the cannonading of the doomed town. At sundown the army was massed in the plain north of the Rappahannock, during the night the pontoon bridges were laid, and at daylight the First Brigade crossed, moving rapidly up the hill to the edge of the plain, in full view of the enemy on the heights. At two o'clock, p. m., forming in line of battle, it advanced swiftly across the plain, the rebel batteries meanwhile opening vigorously. The men of the Fifteenth were under fire for the first time, but they did not falter. Before the rebels had fairly got the range, Deep Run Creek was reached, and in the chasm it opened the regiment found protection, though a few casualties occurred from the explo-
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: Lieutenant-Colonel Edward L. Campbell had come out of the battle of MeClellan'. Maryland campaign with honor, and joined the Fifteenth Regiment on the march : Bakersville. Here, upon the sickness of Colonel Fowler, he took command, which he held during most of the time the regiment was in the service, leading it in nearly every great battle in which it participated. One who served with the regiment says : "If the Fifteenth ever performed any efficient service for the country, or by its conduct re. fleeted any honor upon New Jersey, it was due more to Edward L. Campbell than an; other man. His bravery, integrity, capacity and diligence, stamped the regiment with: a character whose value was known in many critical junetures and hard-fought battle -. '
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THE FIFTEENTH REGIMENT.
sion of shells.3 On the following day, 13th, the army advanced early in the morning right and left, and a fearful struggle soon commenced. During most of the day the Fifteenth was stationed along the line of the railroad, keeping up a musketry fire, and now and then charging upon the enemy, with little loss on either side. Late in the afternoon, a more decided movement was
3 "The rebel fire was direct and elose, and the exposure of a little knot of men or officers would bring a shell just over their heads or into their midst. Colonel Ryerson had ridden up the further bank and was seated on his horse, when a shell came directly towards him and seemed to explode on the very spot he occupied. Doctor Oakley ex- claimed, 'Harry Ryerson is gone!' The smoke elcared away and he was seen to ride ou unharmed, having marked the coming missile and thrown himself down on his horse's neck just in time and far enough to escape."-Chaplain Haines' Notes.
The following is the official report of the action of the regiment :
" My command broke eamp at White Oak Church, Virginia, on the afternoon of Tues- day, April 28th, and marched to the bank of the Rappahannock, uear Franklin's erossing, where it bivouacked until towards morning, when it was moved to the river, and crossed in boats just before daylight on the morning of the 29th, taking up a position immediately on the left bank. Remained there until the morning of the third day of May-a part of which time was employed in doing our post duty, immediately in the face of the enemy.
"On the morning of the 3d instant, I was ordered to the front at about daybreak, and was assigned a position in support of a battery on the extreme left, which was hotly engaging the enemy. Remained upon this duty, taking up various positions, and part of the time exposed to a severe scattering flank fire from the enemy's line of skirmishers, until the enemy was driven from his position on the heights above Fred- ericksburg, and the line on the left was ordered to retire towards that place, when I was left in the rear as a support to our retiring skirmishers, by order of the General commanding the division. Everything was brought from the field without difficulty, as the enemy did not follow up. After procuring ambulances, (to get which I was compelled to send to the eity of Fredericksburg,) and moving the wounded left upon the field during the rapid movement, I proceeded upon the line of march of the corps. Arriving some distance out of the city, on the plank road, I learned that the enemy was making stout resistance in front, and that the First Brigade was about to engage him. Marching as rapidly as practicable, I arrived at the front at about five o'clock, p. m., and without halting, was immediately ordered by the General commanding the corps to engage the enemy on the right of the tvad, in a thick wood, in which the enemy had taken a position, and effectually resisted any attempt to dislodge him. My command advanced about one hundred yards, through a dense and in places impassable undergrowth, to within about thirty yards of the enemy's position, where it engaged at least four of his regiments, with, a. I am convinced, a terrible effect, but withont driving him from his well-chosen posi - tion. Just at dark, my ammunition being entirely exhausted, and the enemy's fire Arstructive, I retired in good order, the enemy showing no disposition to follow. I have the satisfaction of saying for my command, that not a man left the line of battle "Acept the wounded, and when the rolls were called immediately upon arriving in the "pen field, every man was present or properly accounted for except those who were killed, wounded or missing in action, the latter being but five, and all probably killed or wounded. My wounded were all brought off during or after the action, except tu>>sibly the five mentioned above, not found on account of the dense undergrowth of Pushes.
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NEW JERSEY AND THE REBELLION.
made on the immediate front, but the brigade was forced back with very considerable loss, Colonel Hatch, of the Fourth Regiment, who led the charge, being wounded in the knee, requiring amputa- tion of the leg, from the effects of which he died a few days after. A large number of the Fourth were captured, together with a number from the Twenty-third and Fifteenth. The total loss in the latter regiment was about thirty. Among the killed was Sergeant-Major John P. Fowler, whose name had been proposed for a commission. Captain Slater, of Frenchtown, lost a leg, and bore the amputation with much patience and Christian fortitude. Major James M. Brown, who displayed great courage and activity, received a painful contusion in the thigh from a bullet, which disabled him for some time. In addition to this hurt, an old wound. received while a Captain in the Third Regiment, which shattered his jaw and partially paralized his tongue, broke out afresh, render- ing his resignation, when cold weather set in, imperative. He was subsequently appointed Provost-Marshal of the Fourth Congres- sional District, and continued to hold the office until it was abolished with the return of peace.+
"Sunday night my command bivouacked upon the battle-field. During the engage- ment of Monday, was assigned to various positions, a part of the time in support of batteries, when at night the artillery was ordered towards the river; I was ordered to follow it. Re-crossed the river just before daylight in the morning, and went into camp on the right bank. On Friday, the Sth instant, marchied to my present place of en- campmeut. I would respectfully call attention to the conduet of Lieutenant-Colonel Campbell. He was seen in the thickest of the fight and repeatedly he went to the front alone, trying to get not only his own men, but those of other regiments to follow. I am much indebted to our Chaplain (Haines) for his services in transmitting orders and attending to the wounded. All my officers behaved well, especially while taking into consideration it was their first engagement.
"I am, very respectfully, your obedient servant,
" W. H. PENROSE, Colonel Commanding Brigade."
: "Mitchel Mulvey, Company G, was the first man of the regiment killed. At the time slots were being exchanged with the rebel pickets. He was cautioned not to expose himself, but exclaimed : 'Hush, don't tell a Jersey boy to keep back when the enemy is in sight.' He had fixed his attention on a rebel sharpshooter who fired from behind a tree. When, at length, the rebel exposed himself in firing, he took aim and fired. The rebel was seen to tumble over, evidently killed. At the same moment Mitchell fell back dead, shot through the brain. As the regiment was relieved on Sabbath morning, a plunging bullet-shot passed through the knapsack and body of Alexander S. Sergeant, Company F, killing him. Ezekiel C. Quick, Company G, wa- shot through the lungs and lived several days, expressing his entire willingness to suffer for his country and his strong faith in the Saviour. He sent several messages to
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THE FIFTEENTH REGIMENT.
Bravely as the army had fought, it could not accomplish the impossible, and on the night of the 15th, General Burnside with- drew his forces, who settled down at Falmouth and White Oak Church. The winter which followed, marked by no signs of activ- ity other than the " Mud March," was for the most part one of great gloom and suffering. The troops, especially those who experienced for the first time a winter's hardships in the field, felt it severely. The typhoid fever prevailed ; without proper tents or facilities for building log huts, lying on the wet, spongy ground, without vege- table food, illy-provided with shoes and clothing, and firewood scarce, the men suffered and died by hundreds. Among the victims in the Fifteenth was the Hospital-Steward, John R. Hilton, who died nobly in the path of duty." But at length, the winter, dreary and sad, passed away, and active work again commenced. In the latter part of April, 1863, Colonel William H. Penrose, a native of Michigan and a Lieutenant in the Third United States Infantry, took cominand of the regiment, and on the 29th, having broken camp at White Oak Church the day previous, the brigade crossed the Rappahannock at Franklin's crossing, to co-operate in the movement against the enemy at Chancellorsville, whither the bulk
the men of his company and as a dying man warned them to be in earnest in preparing for eternity.
" The scenes at the hospital on the night of the 13th of December, at the Barnard House, were most impressive. The parlors, chambers, corridors, cellars, garret, court- yard and garden of the fine old mansion were crowded with the wounded and dying. Blood and death were on every side. General Bayard was already dead; Colonel Hatch lay in delirium ; one sufferer after another had been laid upon the ampntating table and was removed with arm or leg gone, and many a brave man's corpse was hastily buried in the garden, and many more surrendering back their souls to God.
"It is proper to notice the fidelity of the medical officers of the regiment. Doctor Redford Sharp, the principal Surgeon, was most active and efficient. Though detailed to the Division Hospital, he was able to do much for the wounded of the regiment brought to him, and was specially tender and careful of all under his charge. He gave nearly five years to the cause of humanity in the army, and his name deserves remembrance along with the good and the brave. Doctor George R. Sullivan was most skilful in the treatment of disease and very efficient in the duties of his profession. He was attached to the regiment till the organization of the Thirty-ninth, when he was promoted as its Surgeon."-Notes of Chaplain Haines.
" "His last act was one of humanity. The day before his death, with the fever upon him, he went a distance of half a mile to see and prescribe for some sick men. He died at peace with the world and his Maker. His remains were taken to Belvidere, his native place, and a beautiful monument, erected by the officers of the regiment, marks his grave."
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NEW JERSEY AND THE REBELLION.
of the army was already moving. During the day; (29th,) the Fif- teenth was kept in position near the river, but in the evening was sent on picket in the open plain, within four hundred feet of the enemy. Two days after rifle trenches were dug, which it occupied until the night of May 2d. when our skirmishers drove in the enemy's line and held the plain to the foot of the heights. On the 3d, at daylight, the brigade moved rapidly out from its position, in the face of a sharp rebel fire-the Fifteenth reaching the turnpike road and having a severe skirmish, in which it lost several men killed and three bodies left on the field, the loss in all being twenty, sub- sequently, the regiment being captured, the Fifteenth about noon was withdrawn from the extreme left, and marching through the town, pushed up the plank road over the heights in the direction of Salem Church. At four o'clock, p. m., the command halted, and in obedience to orders, two hours after, was hurried into position on the right of the brigade, encountering the heaviest fire it had yet made. Charging gallantly through a thick wood, the enemy was found advantageously posted behind a wall and ditch, but the Fifteenth, with a royal courage, bravely faced all obstacles, main- taining the fight until eight o'clock, p. m., when, owing to a want of concert of action, it was compelled to fall back, having lost in killed, wounded and missing, one hundred and thirty men, which number, added to the twenty of the morning, swelled the losses of the day to one hundred and fifty." The fighting at Chancellorsville having meanwhile proved disastrous, it was found necessary to withdraw the army, which in the case of the Sixth Corps was a hazardous undertaking, but was accomplished on the night of the 4th without loss.
" "Captain Ira Lindsley, of Morristown, an excellent officer, fell at the head of his company. Lieutenant John Fowler, had been in charge of the ambulance train, but anticipating the moving of the army, had some days previous requested to be returned to his regiment. He came back only to be instantly killed at Salem Heights. The Color-Sergeant, Eugene Hicks, of Clinton, a fine, noble-looking young man whose name was on the list for promotion, fell with the colors in his hands. pierced with a bullet through the brain. Corporal Samuel Rubadon seized the falling flag and carried it right forward through the rest of the fight. Corporal Simon Nevins, who had lett Rutgers College to enlist, received his death wound. Warren N. Dunham, a true so !- dier and lovely Christian youth ; Joshua D. Banker, who had recently professed li, faith in Christ, and many interesting and noble young men, were left dead upon the field."-Diary of Chaplain Haines.
389
THE FIFTEENTH REGIMENT.
After re-crossing the Rappahannock at Banks' Ford, the regiment returned to its old camp, where it remained until June 6th, when it broke camp, and on the evening of the 7th, once more crossed the river at Franklin's crossing, and taking position in the old rifle pits, awaited an expected attack. During the ensuing week strong works were constructed on the brow of the hill overlooking the plain below Fredericksburg, but no conflict resulting, the regiment on Saturday night re-crossed the pontoon bridge, afterwards hauling the boats from the river-a few men in the darkness and confusion being left behind.7 Still moving forward-the army now being ordered in pursuit of Lee, who was moving into Pennsylvania, the regiment finally reached Fairfax Station, where, after a halt of some days, it again (on the 26th of June,) advanced, crossing the Potomac near Edward's Ferry. On the night of July 1st, leaving the vicinity of Manchester, Maryland, it moved in a northwesterly direction until it struck the Littleton pike, and thence through Littleton and Two Taverns, reaching Gettysburg at three o'clock, p. m., of the 2d, having marched thirty-five miles in sixteen hours, and mostly without food. At seven o'clock, p. m., the brigade was sent to the front, but though the battle was in progress, did not become engaged. The ground in its front was that from which Sickles had been driven, but the enemy in turn being driven back, the men slept in position on their arms. But the wakeful ones heard, all through the night, the moans and cries of the wounded, who had been gathered into the houses or barns, or lay uncared for upon the bloody field.
On the morning of the 3d, the brigade, after various movements, occupied a rocky knoll, something like an eighth of a mile from Little Round Top, in the direction of the town. The enemy being, after three hours' stubborn fighting, repulsed and the position secured upon the right, a lull in the combat ensued, interrupted only by artillery fighting from the left. But all the morning Lec
: " Among those left were Hiram Sands and Albert Fowler, who subsequently had quarters in the Libby Prison and at Danville. When the bridges were all taken up, one man, left on the other side, came to the bank and most piteously begged for a boat to come for him, but it was too late and between him and us there was a great gulf."- Diary of' Chaplain Haines.
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had been placing his artillery and massing his troops for a grand assault, and at length one hundred and fifty pieces, opened all along his lines, hurling great showers of missiles against our posi- tion. Fortunately, however, the First Brigade escaped with only a trifling loss. "Upon the rocky knoll, fronted with trees," writes a member of the Fifteenth, " our position was indefinite, and most of the missiles passed over our heads harmlessly, bursting in our rear, or going too low, struck in the hill below us. Several men were injured by shells exploding in the air, but in general the regiment was unharmed. With arms firmly grasped the men waited the coming assault for over two hours, when the fire on either side slackened and in contrast with the previous dread explosions there was a great calm. But the enemy was forming, and emerging from their cover, fifteen or twenty thousand Con- federates moved out to the deadly assault. With strange emotion we watched their coming; it was not fear, it was not surprise, but every man was silent, and grasped his weapon more closely. When the enemy reached the middle of the plain, our batteries began to play upon him, cutting through his lines, but he came on with increasing rapidity, till the fire of musketry, which had been withheld, was poured into him. He dropped rapidly, but nearer and nearer swept the charging columns. Most of our batteries were out of ammunition and ceased their firing, and it was left to the opposing bodies of infantry to determine the contest. As the charging column swept nearer, a heavier and more deadly fire stayed a body of North Carolina troops for a moment, when they broke and ran; a large number throwing down their arms and coming in as prisoners. Pickett's Division had a less distance of open ground to traverse, and so great was the impetus it acquired that it passed directly over our outer-line of stone wall and rough works, and drove back the first line of troops, belonging to part of' the Second Corps. The rebel colors, indeed, were planted right on the breastworks. The critical hour of the day had come, but General Hancock was equal to the emergency, and gathering troops from right and left, and halting and re-forming the broken columns. a new line was formed, which, though bending back some distance
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THE FIFTEENTH REGIMENT.
from the former front, was a formidable barrier to the enemy's further progress. Then from right and left, assailing either flank, was poured in a destructive fire, and our men came pressing closer, making the circuit smaller. The fighting was short and decisive. The rebels recoiled before the deadly fire, threw away their arms in token of submission, and on all sides crouched close to the earth in dismay. Some thousands were captured and moved away to the rear, our troops at once regaining and holding their former line. Soon after, another charging column moved across the plain, but a withering artillery fire played upon their ranks, and a portion of our troops, leaping the entrenchments, assaulted their flank and soon put them to flight, with heavy loss of killed and prisoners. Before sundown the fighting ceased, but the Confederates had failed and their commander was convinced of the hopelessness of assault- ing the position of the Union Army. It was Fredericksburg reversed; but wiser than Burnside, Lee did not persist in hurrying his columns again and again to certain destruction. The Fifteenth witnessed all from their position, but though ready for duty were not summoned to actual fighting."
The next day, 4th, was spent without a contest. Each side buried its dead and sent the wounded to the rear, within its own lines. The rebels during the day threw up works, but at night began their retreat. At once the army started in pursuit, and early Sunday morning, the Fifteenth took the road on the left and passing along the base of Little Round Top, and through Plum Run meadow and the wheat field, and peach orchard where Sickles' Corps had suf- fered so heavily on the 2d, came in about two hours upon their deserted hospitals. Following cautiously, at night it came upon their rear-guard near Fairfield, and a sharp skirmish followed. After halting all night and the next day until four o'clock, p. m., at Fairfield, the brigade again marched, and at sunrise reached Emmettsburg, the enemy having evacuated the whole region. The pursuit was continued for several days, and on the 12th, near Hagers- town, there was a skirmish in which two men of the Fifteenth were wounded, one by a bullet through the foot, and Jacob O. Burdett through both thighs. The former subsequently died in the hospital.
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Hagerstown was captured, and two days later the command reached Williamsport, but the rebels were safely beyond the river. On the 19th of July, the brigade re-crossed .the Potomac at Berlin and marched through the Loudon Valley, arriving at Warrenton on the 25th, where it went into camp and remained until September 15th ; two days later, moving to Culpepper Court House, it again en- camped ; and the remainder of the year was passed without partici- pating in any engagements. The Fifteenth marched with the army to Centreville and back again to the Rappahannock, was present, though not engaged at the capture of Rappahannock Station, and after the movement to Mine Run went into winter-quarters two miles from Brandy Station. Here timber being abundant, the regi- ment built very comfortable huts, and the camp was finely laid out upon a ridge of ground. On the 17th of January, 1864, a chapel built of logs, roofed with canvass, and twenty feet by thirty in size, was opened for religious services in the regiment. This rude house of worship witnessed many a scene of devotion, and the evident presence of the Holy Spirit, and was the spiritual birth-place of many souls. After its opening, services were held twice on the Sabbath and every evening of the week, excepting Wednesday, when the Literary Society had the use of the building. Soon after the opening of the Chapel an unusual religious interest was awak- ened throughout the regiment. The house was well filled night after night. The preaching seemed to reach the heart; and the meetings for prayer after tattoo were deeply interesting. Meetings for inquirers were opened and numbers of the awakened began to come. Three communion services were held in this building. At the first, January 24th, two men of the Fifteenth and five from the Third made public profession of their faith in Christ. At the second, March 27th, nineteen made a profession of religion and eleven of them were baptized. The third, May 1st, witnessed the reception of twenty more into the regimental church, six of whom were baptized. The services of May 1st were very largely attended and numbers expressed their comfort in the exercises, an officer who received his death wound on the 6th, saying it was the most solemn administration of the sacrament he had ever attended. The last
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